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Careers: Police/qualifications and background check

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Expert: - 12/17/2007


Question
I am very interested in becoming a police officer. I would like to work in a metropolitan area and work my way up into specialized units along the way. I do have a few questions though.... First, I am not sure if I will have adequate employment history. Can you not have many jobs and still be considered for police work? If you have been fired from jobs before, how much will this affect me? Secondly, I am currently attending college for my transfer credits so that I may attend Metropolitan State University for a double major in Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement. The only problem is that I've had some problems when I was a little younger and have gotten in an car accident. I have received a Minor Consumption before.Will this effect my chances or could I still be considered for employment? Does my credit score another factor on which I will be judged?

Answer
Justin,

   The first thing that you have to understand is that there are NO national hiring standards for police officers and there are thousands of police departments.  You have given me about ten things that have happened in your life and any of them could cause concern or help you depending on which department you apply to.

   I can tell you that a bad credit record is not going to help you.  A history of moving around from job to job is not going to help you.  "A little problems" is not going to help you however those things might not hurt you.  Your education won't hurt you but might not help you.  

  So you see this is a very variable thing and you won't know until you apply to a department.

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Jack Toomey

Expertise

U.S.: I am an expert in this category for the purpose of giving young people an idea what the hiring process involves for the position of police officer. I am getting a flood of questions from young people who are being influenced by unrealistic television shows. I'd ask you to consider that when you watch police shows on television that they are NOT realistic and most of what you see does not happen in real life. Please do not ask me about potential jail sentences that you, your friends, or family might receive in court. There is no way for me to know that. I am NOT a probation officer so I cannot answer questions about probation and parole matters. I am a retired police officer with 26 years experience.I worked in a variety of assignments including investigations, homicide, sex crimes, runaway investigations, missing persons, and fraud.I also dealt with the general public during that time giving a wide range of advice on matters such as domestic disputes, problem solving, teenage problems, civil/criminal matters, and dealing with the mentally ill. I am available to give sound and reasonable advice which can solve most problems. Please do not ask me to do homework questions or online interviews. Young people should not rely on the Internet for interviews. Local police officers are normally very agreeable to assist students with interviews and surveys.

Experience

Worked as a police officer/detective for 26 years.

Graduate of the University of Maryland.B.S. in Law Enforcement.Attended numerous schools and training courses involving investigations, interviewing, interrogations, crime detection, domestic violence, and others. Recognized in court as an expert witness.

Received numerous awards during my police career for expert investigations. Handled the most sensitive and confidential investigations. In 1999 I won an award for my work with high school students while working in my new career in a large suburban high school.

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